Alister Morrison has been appointed as the new director of golf at the championship standard course designed by Dave Thomas, the man behind The Belfry.

He will be joined shortly by 2007 Northern Open champion, Murray Urquhart, who has been taken on as the resort's golf professional.

Originally from Stirling, Mr Morrison decided to return to his Scottish roots after falling in love with Badenoch and Strathspey while on a holiday with his wife, Isabel, last August.

He has arrived from the plush Vale Hotel Golf and Spa Resort on the outskirts of Cardiff.

During the seven years he was employed as the resort's golf business development manager, he turned the then new golfing side of the development into a lucrative business.

Mr Morrison, who plays off 14, said: "I was instantly captivated by Spey Valley and jumped at the chance to work here. It's an absolutely stunning course.

"Isabel and I bought a caravan two years ago so that we could explore more of Scotland but I never thought we would end up staying and working here."

Mr Morrison is keen to continue building bridges with the other excellent golf courses in the strath so that the area becomes a Mecca for the game's players.

"The North of Scotland is a golfer's dream and I'll be working with other courses in Badenoch and Strathspey to promote the area as the ideal Scottish golfing experience."

He'll be adding his own personal touch to the set-up at the course, which has now been in play for three years. "I'm a people person and I am very keen to ensure that when our guests come to play Spey Valley they will be very well looked after and want to come back again, and bring their friends."

Previous to his golfing career, Mr Morrison was based in Cardiff as a regional sales director with Pearl Assurance for 32 years.

He has been a member of Radyr Golf Club for the past 20 years and has played many of the world's top courses.

The new team at Spey Valley Golf Club, Murray Urquhart and Alister Morrison, will promote the resort as a Mecca for golfers.

Mr Morrison is currently working out of the main Aviemore Highland Resort complex, but will be moving to the club shop and changing rooms by Dalfaber Golf and Country Club from March 9.

Despite just being in post a week, he has already got the ball rolling on a number of initiatives including cutting the green fees at Spey Valley.

In the off-season periods (March, April, October and November) visitors will be able to enjoy a round of 18 holes for just £30 compared to £59 last year and the rate for the summer has been cut from £79 to £55 per round. Meanwhile, the cost to become a member of Spey Valley for the year has been reduced from £490 to £390.

Explaining the decision, Mr Morrison said: "We are trying to be fair to our golfers in the area and to recognise the current economic circumstances."

Mr Morrison will be joined by Murray Urquhart, from Inverness, at the end of March. Mr Urquhart has been a pro for 12 years and played on the European Tour in 2003 when he teed off with the likes of Ian Poulter and Padraig Harrington.

The highlight of his year was carding the lowest round – a 63 – at the Lancome tournament at Saint Nom-la-Breteche in Paris, which was eventually won by Retief Goosen.

Urquhart said: "Spey Valley is not only one of the best courses in Scotland but the UK. For such a young course it has matured very well."

He also qualified for the British Open in 2005 at St Andrews and recalls: "It was a great experience. It was Jack Nicklaus' last open tournament and to be there to see him tee-off was very special."

The 35-year-old will be based at the resort until October and his role will be to promote the resort, entertain corporate guests, and, of course, be available to coach players looking to improve their game.

The new arrivals have replaced Alan Tait, who become the new director of golf at The Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club near Edinburgh in early January.

Later this year, Spey Valley will play host to two major tournaments – the Northern Open from May 25 to 29 and the televised European Challenge which gets underway on July 27.

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